Philly Confidential

A man sporting a fake bushy beard tried to rob the St. Helena School in Olney Monday morning but fled empty-handed when the employee he stuck up instead fled and alerted authorities, police said.

The incident occurred about 6:30 a.m., and no students were present. Police say the thug got into the school on Fifth Street near Spencer by ringing a buzzer at the delivery entrance and announcing that he had a delivery to make. On the second floor, he encountered the employee and pulled a handgun on him, demanding money, police said. The employee led his mugger to a first-floor classroom, where the employee was able to escape, police said.

The suspect is described as a white male or light-skinned black male, 6-foot-3, thin build, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, black baseball cap and a fake bushy beard. Anyone who knows who he is should call 9-1-1 or Det. Valentino of Northwest Detectives at (215) 686-3353 or -3354.